AP U.S. Government and Politics
Vocabulary and Discussion Questions
Key Terms
GovernmentPoliticsPolitical EfficacyCitizenshipAutocracyOligarchyDemocracyConstitutional governmentAuthoritarian governmentTotalitarian governmentPoliticsPowerRepresentative democracy/republicDirect democracyPluralismPolitical cultureLibertyLimited GovernmentLaissez-faire capitalismEquality of opportunity-
Political equityPopular sovereigntyMajority rule, minority rights-
Discussion Questions
How do racial and ethnic classifications used by the U.S. Census Bureau reflect political
concerns and changing social norms?
Why did the 1790 census only count “blacks” and “whites”?
When did we start counting Hispanics as a separate group? Why?
Why do you think the percentage of Americans between zero and nineteen years of age
has declined since 1900?
Why has the percentage of Americans over 65 increased?
If you had to project into the future (to the 2050 census), how do you think the age
demographics will change?